In pictures: Great Yorkshire Show 2022 highlights

The 163rd Great Yorkshire Show returned to Harrogate this week for a sold out event.

All 140,000 tickets were snapped up in advance for the annual event, which started on Tuesday and finished on Friday.

Visitors flocked to the show, which featured a host of celebrities, including former Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker and shepherdess and presenter Amanda Owen.

An array of attractions were also on display, including sheepdog trials, horse showing classes and a pigeon show.

Meanwhile, some of the best farms across the north of England competed for the Tye Trophy, which recognises the contribution of farmers to conservation and environmental improvement.

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Princess Anne attended on the opening day to mark another royal visit.

Charles Mills, show director, said: 

“It was a real honour to welcome the Princess Royal to the Great Yorkshire Show again this year.”

The Princess Royal visited the food hall, cheese show and farming charities as well as the bicentenary celebrations of the Shorthorn cattle breed. 

Here are some pictures from this year’s event.

Ripon Royal Engineers embark on subterranean warfare training

Ripon Royal Engineers have embarked on a subterranean warfare training exercise in Leeds.

Around 20 personnel from the 21 Engineer Regiment embraced the hot weather earlier this week and slipped into an array of tunnels as part of the training known as Hypogeal Bear.

The Ripon-based unit made their way through 2km of knee-high water for what is seen as one of the Army’s most innovative exercises of the training year.

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Starting off from near the Royal Armouries Museum, and supported all the way by the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the troops made their way through the winding underground route until they reached Harewood Barracks.

Sergeant Mottley, one of the masterminds behind the exercise, said:

“We are trialling subterranean tactics, techniques, and procedures in a real-world environment, with the aim to build a specialist engineering capability that can augment the infantry and civilian services.

“This is not a sterile training area! It is not easy-going underfoot, it is not easy to manoeuvre down. We are in the middle of Leeds and it is something completely different. The links that this has built with Leeds City Council and the Fire and Rescue Service have also been a big plus.”

Pictures by Sgt Ben Maher RLC / MOD Crown Copyright 2022

Plan to convert former Markington pub into house

Plans have been lodged to convert a former Markington pub into a house.

The Cross Keys Inn, High Street, closed in 2016 after declining turnover and profitability.

Now, plans have been tabled to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the pub into a home.

ID Planning, who have lodged the plan on behalf of Leeds-based Lotherton Property Services, said in documents submitted to the council that the building had been extensively marketed.

It added that potential buyers had little interest in reopening the pub.

The documents said:

“No party expressed any interest whatsoever in reopening it as a public house or indeed any other use other than residential.”

The proposal would see the former pub converted into a four bedroom house along with three car parking spaces.

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

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Harrogate roads set for three weeks of resurfacing work

Four Harrogate roads are set to undergo three weeks of resurfacing work which will see road closures and temporary traffic lights in place.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department will carry out the work on Claro Road, Ainsty Road, Devonshire Place and Coach Road from Sunday, July 24.

As part of the work, the roads will be closed or have two-way traffic lights in place.

Resurfacing will be carried out on the following dates and locations:

Ainsty Road will undergo patching work on Friday, July 29 under a road closure from 7.30am to 11.30pm, but access will be maintained for residents.

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Advance warning signs will be installed at all locations and a signed diversion route will be in place.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said: 

“We are working hard to improve the condition of North Yorkshire’s roads, with an extensive programme of works across the county to improve the condition of our vast network.

“The maintenance works on these key Harrogate roads are the latest in our efforts, and I know they will be very much welcome.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Great Yorkshire Show final day traffic update

Drivers should expect delays heading into Harrogate today as the Great Yorkshire Show enters its final day.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic roundup.

Roads

As previously reported, traffic management measures for the Great Yorkshire Show remain in place throughout the event.

A one-way system in place on Wetherby Road coming from Kestrel roundabout is in force.

As it is the final day of the show, motorists should expect delays from Spofforth, Wetherby and Knaresborough to the roundabout.

Drivers heading out of Harrogate are reminded that there is no through access on Wetherby Road to Kestrel roundabout.

All traffic has to turn left onto Forest Lane.

Sainsbury’s and the petrol station on Wetherby Road remain closed during the event.

More details on the traffic management arrangements in place can be found here.

Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

Trains and buses

Train services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting that its 21 service will not be able to reach Goldsborough village due to the ongoing roadworks in the village.

A free shuttle bus is running to the Great Yorkshire Show from Harrogate Bus Station.

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Positive covid patients at Harrogate hospital doubles in three weeks

The number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital who tested positive for covid has more than doubled in three weeks.

Latest figures supplied by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust show 35 covid-positive patients are currently in hospital — a rise from 14 on June 25.

Of that number, six are primarily receiving treatment for covid.

The figure peaked at 42 positive patients on July 5, but has since declined.

Harrogate hospital officials have put the rise in cases down to the spread of the more transmissible Omicron variant.

Health officials have warned that hospitals are under extreme pressure due to a rise in cases.

West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts, which includes Harrogate hospital, said that the increase in cases has meant the availability of beds has been impacted.

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This combined with covid-related staff sickness means patients are also facing delays for planned treatment, officials said.

Dr Phil Wood, chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 

“The significant upsurge in covid-19 cases in West Yorkshire and Harrogate means that our hospitals are facing extreme pressures. Our teams are doing everything they can to make sure that services are safe and, in some cases, planned treatment may need to be postponed.

“We are aware that some people have been waiting for planned operations for a very long time and, wherever possible, we will ensure these go ahead as planned.

“Thankfully, the number of very seriously ill people needing treatment in intensive care for covid-19 is very small and accounts for less than two per cent of total inpatient cases. 

“The covid-19 vaccine is very effective at preventing severe disease in those who have been immunised and I’d encourage anyone who has not yet had their vaccine to book an appointment through the NHS.uk website.”

Harrogate business backs trio’s 15,000-mile trek to India

A Harrogate business is backing three men who are embarking on a 15,000 mile trek in aid of Ukraine.

Daniel Patton, 22, Joe Fisher, 23 and Callum Kitson, 22, who are from New Zealand but have Harrogate connections, are driving from Orkney Isles in Scotland to India in a small hatchback car.

The journey forms part of the Mongol Rally, which challenges drivers to take a 1.3 litre vehicle on a trek in aid of charity.

The trio, who call themselves The Kiwis Don’t Fly Rally Team, are raising money for the DEC Ukraine appeal.

They stopped at the Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate on Tuesday as part of the first phase of their journey.

Ethical Team, a PR company based at the Grosvenor Buildings on Crescent Road, has backed the effort.

Iain Patton, director of Ethical Team, said:

“It’s incredible how the plight of Ukraine has garnered support from young people all around the world.

“It’s inspiring how ‘Kiwis Don’t Fly’ want to do everything in their power to make a difference and show solidarity with Ukrainians in such difficult times.”

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The men said they were embarking on the mammoth trek to raise money amid the Ukraine war.

They said:

“We have dedicated over two years of research to this adventure, and when the opportunity came up to participate in an expedition organised by The Adventurists along the way we couldn’t say no. 

“We happen to think our charity of choice is a pretty special too.”

The first leg of their journey will see the trio head from John o’ Groats to Georgia.

After this, they will navigate south on their own from Georgia through Azerbaijan, Iran, and Pakistan to reach their destination in the south of India.

You can donate to the trio at their JustGiving page here.

Seven weeks of gas works set to start on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road

Seven weeks of roadworks are set to start on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road from Monday.

Work is being carried out by Northern Gas Networks to replace ageing pipework with plastic pipes.

It will see temporary traffic lights in place on Clotherholme Road for seven weeks from July 18.

Northern Gas Networks said in a statement that although most work will be carried out on the road, engineers will need access to customer properties to complete the project and ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas.

Russ Kaye, Business Operations Lead for Northern Gas Networks, said: 

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we complete them in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Ripon.

“We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this essential scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”

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£60m Kex Gill contract to be awarded

A construction contract for the £60 million rerouting of a landslide-hit road between Harrogate and Skipton is set to be approved.

North Yorkshire County Council says it has found a preferred bidder to carry out the delayed project, which will see a new carriageway built for the A59 at Kex Gill.

The road is a key east-west link for the county and has been hit by 12 landslides in as many years, leading to diversions for motorists and costs for the council.

In one instance, a landslide in January 2016 shut the road for eight weeks.

The council had hoped works would start last autumn, however, the project has been hit by several delays including objections to compulsory purchase orders that the council made to acquire land for the new route.

Minerals company Sibelco also attempted to call in the project for a public inquiry, but this was rejected by the government.

There is now an aim for construction to begin next January, with completion in early 2025.

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Funding for the project is coming from the Department for Transport, which has agreed to provide £56 million, while the council will make up the rest of the costs.

The council’s executive will be asked to agree to the awarding of the contract to the preferred bidder at a meeting next Tuesday.

But before the contract can be signed off, a final business case for the project will be submitted to the Department for Transport.

A report to Tuesday’s meeting said the road was still causing repair costs for the council which has planned drainage works this month and wants to see a permanent solution in place.

The report said:

“There remains a high risk that there will be further landslips in the future, which could potentially result in long term closures of the route, severely impacting connectivity between Skipton and Harrogate.

“Conversely there is a risk to public safety and economic disruption.

“Whilst short to medium term management measures are continually being undertaken, the county council recognised that in the longer term there was a need to develop proposals for a permanent solution.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Great Yorkshire Show traffic update

As the Great Yorkshire Show continues into its third day, traffic is expected to build up heading into Harrogate.

We have details on traffic arrangements are in place and where drivers can expect delays.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic roundup.

Roads

Great Yorkshire Show traffic is expected to continue today, with a one-way system in place on Wetherby Road coming from Kestrel roundabout.

Yesterday, the Stray Ferret reported delays of up to 40 minutes with traffic backing up from Spofforth to the roundabout at 9am.

Motorists approaching the show from Knaresborough and Wetherby should also expect delays.

Meanwhile, drivers heading out of Harrogate are reminded that there is no through access on Wetherby Road to Kestrel roundabout.

All traffic has to turn left onto Forest Lane.

More details on the traffic management arrangements in place can be found here.

Trains and buses

Train services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting no cancellations on its services.

A free shuttle bus is running to the Great Yorkshire Show from Harrogate Bus Station.

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